Celtic ...................... 2

St Johnstone ........... 0

THE years spent in the wilderness without a premier division championship victory are over for Celtic. Their decade of despair ended with this two-goal victory over St Johnstone.

Now the tension which has blighted so many lives and so many careers, will surely be

diluted. That the Parkhead club have achieved victory must bring an end to the pressures which have dogged them over the past few seasons.

They had to watch Rangers equal that precious nine in a row record which I never expected to see matched by any side.

But on Saturday they were able to save the record, to prevent Rangers scoring a tenth title success and that means that the two clubs who have dominated Scottish soccer for almost a century share the nine successive titles landmark.

Of course, against St Johnstone, there were moments when the enormity of the occasion reached the players, and, naturally the fans.

Of course, there were moments when it appeared that they were suffering from the same problems which had affected them the previous weekend at Dunfermline when they had missed the chance of clinching the championship there.

Of course, there were the odd moments when St Johnstone threatened the Celtic defence - but these were few.

The goal from Henrik Larsson which arrived after only two minutes was a spectacular strike, one which Celtic fans will recall vividly in the years to come, yet, as the game approached half-time without a second goal, there were signs that Celtic had become edgy. Misplaced passes. Mistimed challenges. Almost an action replay of East End Park.

The second goal from Harald Brattbakk ended the game and started the party in Glasgow's east end. Again it was a well crafted strike, without the style of the opener from Larsson, but just as efficiently taken by the Norwegian who has had his problems over the past few weeks.

These, though, were put to the back of his mind with 73 minutes elapsed, when the Football Writers' Player of the Year Craig

Burley, sent the Players' Player of the Year Jackie McNamara clear on the right.

His cross found Brattbakk in his favoured penalty box area, and his finish showed the quality he had been bought to provide for the Glasgow team.

There was not a lot the Perth club could do to change the game.

Manager Paul Sturrock threw on his two remaining substitutes but he must have known that they would never be able to turn the tide in his club's favour.

Their best opportunity had arrived close to half-time when George O'Boyle headed over the bar after a rare mistake from Jonathan Gould. They were never that close again, simply playing a bit part in this historic drama.

Of course there are those who will carp about the quality of the premier league this year and who will point to the mistakes made by Celtic, by Rangers, and by Hearts, too, don't forget, as the gruelling season neared its end.

But no championship is won on a segment of the season. Titles go to the team which has been best over the entire campaign.

And for the 36 games needed to settle this one Celtic ended with the best points total and the best goal difference and no-one can deny that. Nor should they try to rain on their parade by pointing out the faults, rather than the qualities, that they have in the team.

In any case, Jansen acknowledged that the team could be improved. The Dutchman admitted that he had attempted to bring in new players to help Celtic's challenge as injuries and battle fatigue weakened the side he relied on for most of the games.

''I wanted to get new players,'' he said, adding with a shrug, ''but it was not possible.

''We could not go out and get the players I wanted, the ones I thought we needed, and that is what happened.''

Jansen refused, however, to elaborate on the reasons for the failure to bring in fresh players while stressing that Celtic still need to spend money.

Whether the Dutchman will be there to attempt to make these changes next season remains to be seen.

In any case the problem will remain and if someone new comes in he will identify the areas where new players are required if Celtic are to build on this championship success.

Last summer, when Celtic were in turmoil and Tommy Burns was sacked, the support was divided because that favourite Parkhead son had not been able to give his club the title.

This summer Jansen has done that and his departure will not be accepted readily by a Celtic support who have now tasted success.

If he leaves it will cast a giant shadow over the dreams they will cherish throughout this close season.

Quote

We scored the goal, and it was a good goal, and then we had other opportunities early in the first half.

Although we missed them, however, I always felt that we had to continue to be patient, to play the same way we always play, and that would be enough to give us the victory we needed.

And that is how it happened.

- Celtic manager Wim Jansen